Off-Peak TV: Number of U.S. Scripted Shows Fell 24% in 2023, Study Finds
variety.comTodd Spangler NY Digital Editor Scripted TV output in the U.S. dropped sharply in 2023, thanks to a combination of twin Hollywood strikes and a pullback on content spending, according to a new study from research firm Ampere Analysis.
In the U.S., the number of scripted series released last year dropped 24%, to a total of 481. That’s down from 633 in each of 2021 and 2022 — which may have been the apex years for “Peak TV.” According to Ampere, because of the time lag between series being greenlit and their premieres, the number is unlikely to rise in 2024.
The bulk of the decline in 2023 was due to subscription streaming services releasing 77 fewer seasons than the prior year and broadcast TV networks releasing 55 fewer seasons.
Broadcast releases have been falling slowly for many years, but the drop in 2023 could mostly be attributed to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, delaying many new scripted seasons on broadcast TV to a midseason start in January and February 2024.
Read more on variety.com